Separated by a common language

[janedavitt]

I'm getting used to 'herbs', 'oregano', 'caramel', 'tomato', 'centrifugal', 'beta' and 'basil' to name but a few, being pronounced differently over here but I was thrown in a Numb3rs episode I watched this week. They're tracking tidal currents and they go out on a boat and drop labelled buoys, then track when they hit the beach.

Both Charlie and Amita called them 'boo-ees' which had me wriggling a finger in my ear, sure I'd misheard.

In England, we pronounce 'buoys' as 'boys', the word derived, I assume from 'buoyant' (boy-ant) because they're things that float. I guess. Seems to make sense.

So is that really how it's said in the US? ::is curious::

Comments

[green_grrl]

Really?! I grew up on the beach in San Diego, and my dad grew up in Long Beach and Los Angeles--both of us started sailing as children. I've never heard "boys."

[litotease]

Hmmm. OK, not East Coast v. West. NorCal v. SoCal? *is intrigued*

[green_grrl]

Maybe? I could ask my sister, who sailed quite a bit in San Francisco and Crescent City.